Dr. J. Gregory Johnson '72 and Elise Wall Johnson
3/11/2021 4:07:00 PM | Football, DAF
Athletics Keeps This Family Connected To Davidson
Dr. J. Gregory Johnson '72, originally from Easley, SC, first heard of Davidson College because of Lefty Driesell and the basketball program. As a high school junior, Greg was recruited by the Wildcats football program. But it was the pre-med program's reputation that made Davidson a top college pick; he had dreamed of becoming a physician since the eighth grade.
After his first year on the team, Greg understood full well the challenges of being a scholar-athlete at Davidson.
"I did start on the freshman team, but I was not a good athlete," he said. "I realized I wasn't going pro, so I'd better study a little harder."
He turned more of his attention to the pre-med track.
"Davidson really prepared me for medical school – it taught me how to study," he said. "You don't learn everything you're taught, but you can learn how to learn – that's what Davidson did for me."
Still today, the friends he sees the most are his freshman football teammates. At a recent milestone reunion, he and six of his former teammates—six physicians and one dentist—were standing around talking, and it was great to think that Davidson is what prepared them all for their successful careers.
Greg met his wife, Elise Wall Johnson, in the summer of 1964 as adolescents when they both attended a summer camp known as S.C.A.T. (School Camp for the Academically Talented). Elise was from Chester, SC, about 90 miles from Greg's hometown. The couple started dating Greg's senior year in high school, eventually marrying right after college. They went on to have three children, two of whom also attended Davidson (Susan Wall Johnson '98 and James "Rutledge" Johnson *05). Rutledge, following in his father's footsteps, played three years of football at Davidson, and they both proudly served on the Honor Court.
Greg may have only played one year of college football, but athletics is what keeps the family connected to Davidson. Prior to the pandemic, he and Elise would meet up with former teammates and classmates for football tailgates in the endzone as members of the Davidson Gridiron Club. A subset of the group, including Greg, are men's basketball season ticket holders as well – the Johnsons are longtime members of the men's basketball booster club, the Fast Break Club (FBC).
Davidson's coaches have played a major role in why Greg supports athletics. They met Head Men's Basketball Coach Bob McKillop early in his career and have become close friends. The hire of Head Football Coach Scott Abell in 2018 was something Greg says he had been waiting for. He had watched the program evolve over the years and said he was "waiting for a coach to get us back to where we were when I was there," which means a conference title and a trip to the post-season.
"Head Coach Scott Abell coming in has just been phenomenal," Greg said. "He's stoked my enthusiasm with his success."
Outside of men's basketball and football, Greg and Elise support the baseball program. Greg loves baseball, and the pair have been fans since back in the early years of Dick Cooke's coaching career. Most recently, they have decided to give to the women's basketball program, as well. During the 2018-19 season and her second year at the helm, Head Coach Gayle Fulks invited Fast Break Club members to come watch the team play, and the Johnsons took her up on it. They were impressed by the enthusiasm and spirit of the players and were further drawn to the program by how exciting it was to watch them play and learn about the senior team members' post-graduation plans.
The Johnsons recognize the significant, lasting impact donors can have on the 21 Division I programs at Davidson. They are most passionate about providing coaches with the resources they need to compete at the highest level and recruiting the very best scholar-athletes.
"I see the type of students that are coming in to play sports," Greg said, "and it is amazing to me what they can accomplish. We want to give the coaches and players that support so that they can go out and achieve whatever it is they wish to do."
For Greg and Elise Johnson, Davidson Athletics is a family. They have met many of the students and families from the programs they support, at road games, tournaments and post-game meals.
"It's been a family thing for as long as I can remember," said Elise, who misses the interaction since COVID changed what's possible. "I miss [men's basketball senior] Carter Collins' smile and hugs … he just lights up a room! I miss that interaction."
Thanks to Davidson, Greg Johnson achieved his eighth-grade dream of pursuing medicine. Thanks to the Johnsons, many more students will turn their dreams into reality, too.
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| Greg Johnson 1969 Quips and Cranks |
"I did start on the freshman team, but I was not a good athlete," he said. "I realized I wasn't going pro, so I'd better study a little harder."
He turned more of his attention to the pre-med track.
"Davidson really prepared me for medical school – it taught me how to study," he said. "You don't learn everything you're taught, but you can learn how to learn – that's what Davidson did for me."
Still today, the friends he sees the most are his freshman football teammates. At a recent milestone reunion, he and six of his former teammates—six physicians and one dentist—were standing around talking, and it was great to think that Davidson is what prepared them all for their successful careers.
Greg met his wife, Elise Wall Johnson, in the summer of 1964 as adolescents when they both attended a summer camp known as S.C.A.T. (School Camp for the Academically Talented). Elise was from Chester, SC, about 90 miles from Greg's hometown. The couple started dating Greg's senior year in high school, eventually marrying right after college. They went on to have three children, two of whom also attended Davidson (Susan Wall Johnson '98 and James "Rutledge" Johnson *05). Rutledge, following in his father's footsteps, played three years of football at Davidson, and they both proudly served on the Honor Court.
Greg may have only played one year of college football, but athletics is what keeps the family connected to Davidson. Prior to the pandemic, he and Elise would meet up with former teammates and classmates for football tailgates in the endzone as members of the Davidson Gridiron Club. A subset of the group, including Greg, are men's basketball season ticket holders as well – the Johnsons are longtime members of the men's basketball booster club, the Fast Break Club (FBC).
Davidson's coaches have played a major role in why Greg supports athletics. They met Head Men's Basketball Coach Bob McKillop early in his career and have become close friends. The hire of Head Football Coach Scott Abell in 2018 was something Greg says he had been waiting for. He had watched the program evolve over the years and said he was "waiting for a coach to get us back to where we were when I was there," which means a conference title and a trip to the post-season.
"Head Coach Scott Abell coming in has just been phenomenal," Greg said. "He's stoked my enthusiasm with his success."
Outside of men's basketball and football, Greg and Elise support the baseball program. Greg loves baseball, and the pair have been fans since back in the early years of Dick Cooke's coaching career. Most recently, they have decided to give to the women's basketball program, as well. During the 2018-19 season and her second year at the helm, Head Coach Gayle Fulks invited Fast Break Club members to come watch the team play, and the Johnsons took her up on it. They were impressed by the enthusiasm and spirit of the players and were further drawn to the program by how exciting it was to watch them play and learn about the senior team members' post-graduation plans.
The Johnsons recognize the significant, lasting impact donors can have on the 21 Division I programs at Davidson. They are most passionate about providing coaches with the resources they need to compete at the highest level and recruiting the very best scholar-athletes.
"I see the type of students that are coming in to play sports," Greg said, "and it is amazing to me what they can accomplish. We want to give the coaches and players that support so that they can go out and achieve whatever it is they wish to do."
For Greg and Elise Johnson, Davidson Athletics is a family. They have met many of the students and families from the programs they support, at road games, tournaments and post-game meals.
"It's been a family thing for as long as I can remember," said Elise, who misses the interaction since COVID changed what's possible. "I miss [men's basketball senior] Carter Collins' smile and hugs … he just lights up a room! I miss that interaction."
Thanks to Davidson, Greg Johnson achieved his eighth-grade dream of pursuing medicine. Thanks to the Johnsons, many more students will turn their dreams into reality, too.
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